@jeanne-mayell Very neat visual on the plane's air circulation, Jeanne. Thanks for sharing!
Hi everyone! I am back.
What is the current feeling about whether the elementary schools are going to stick it out full-time with this Delta varient bearing down on us or should we prep mentally for hybrid or virtual school again?
Honestly, I wish the focus could be on schools being remote until kids under 12 can be vaccinated. This variant is so contagious and more unvaccinated children are getting very sick in areas with lower vaccination rates already. I am afraid for our little ones, but I understand that remote learning has been incredibly challenging and our country is not in the same position it was a year ago (I get that it might not be feasible to move everyone to remote learning again and has been detrimental in many levels). I don’t know what the right answer is and can’t get a good read on the outcome, but the situation feels much more chaotic and unsettled leaving everything to school districts rather than having state/federal mandates. I’m afraid there will be lots of cases in children this fall/winter before they’re able to get vaccinated.
One thing which would be helpful is to mandate covid tests each week for students. They aren't perfect but they are a tool.
AZ, Florida and Texas are ostriches and head burying will not change the reality of the situation no matter how hard they try. Delta is a different animal and for whatever reason, many schools/states are treating it like a weaker cousin. They are ignoring the elephant in the room. The huge and trumpeting elephant.
The county I live in recently declared that staff, teachers, and students must wear masks. Of course, parents are already calling into the superintendent as they are very much not pleased with the mandate. ?
I want to be positive but I don't see this getting any better as so many people are stubborn not only on wearing masks but getting vaccinated too. More children are being hospitalized due to Delta but I'm starting to question if that will even change hearts and minds as so many in America seem quite stubborn and continue to dig their heels in about the situation.
@nelysthealchemist The county near my neck of the woods went viral because a group of parents and protesters caused such a show (including Madison Cawthorne) at the school board meeting last week. It was in Newsweek. The county made masks mandatory unless one had proof of vaccination. The crowd demanded a revote, accused the board of being criminals and called wearing masks child abuse, called for them to be thrown in jail. It was BONKERS. And then there were a few worried about CRT as well. I am afraid that educators are going to be yelled at a lot this year. It is the new norm. ?
@nelysthealchemist The county near my neck of the woods went viral because a group of parents and protesters caused such a show (including Madison Cawthorne) at the school board meeting last week. It was in Newsweek. The county made masks mandatory unless one had proof of vaccination. The crowd demanded a revote, accused the board of being criminals and called wearing masks child abuse, called for them to be thrown in jail. It was BONKERS. And then there were a few worried about CRT as well. I am afraid that educators are going to be yelled at a lot this year. It is the new norm. ?
@jeanne-mayell @lovendures @bluebelle @baba @unk-p @ghandigirl and everyone whose handle I can't recall:
Seeking advice with some intuitive insights.
My husband and I have not been on a plane OR left California since February 28, 2020. We are both fully vaccinated as is everyone we know including relatives. We had to cancel many plans in 2020, and were not able to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and other things. We wanted to head up to British Columbia this summer, but the border only reopens tomorrow, so we didn't book anything. We do our best to get outdoors, but I am a traveling soul, always have been, and I need a real change of scenery.
A couple of months ago I booked a trip to Kona, Hawaii for us and for our daughter and her BF. For mid-October. Flights are not an issue - all on points which are refundable anyway. I couldn't book a hotel - too expensive and mostly booked up, so we booked a condo through VRBO. This also reduces the need to eat in restaurants as it has a full kitchen. We had to pay half up front. The other half is due on August 20, and once paid the whole thing becomes non-refundable. I did purchase travel insurance, however it clearly states that while it would cover cancellation due to COVID infection, it does not cover lockdowns, travel restrictions, nor the decision not to travel during COVID. If we cancel after Aug 20, we lose about $2000.
We'd all mask up on the plane and try not to eat til we land, but masks are not required on planes anymore (on some airlines). Our activities would be entirely outdoor - hiking, beach, snorkel, etc. and no nightclubs or anything remotely like that. We would also avoid large group activities like boat rides, etc.
We have 2 weeks to decide whether to cancel a much needed vacay AGAIN. Need advice and insight.
Thanks and namastè!
If anyone is thinking of air travel or getting a visit from someone who is flying in, here is an excellent article showing you precisely how airplanes’ ventilation systems work and what happens if a mask-wearing, covid-shedding person sneezes in your row or the row in front or behind you. Keep in mind that no one is wearing a mask when they are eating or drinking. The writers also address the situation in the terminal too where people are eating and drinking.
Worth a look
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/17/travel/flying-plane-covid-19-safety.html
PS I thought about the school question that three of you have asked and as you said, it is going to vary by state and district. In many districts they are going to think of the infection rate as they think of chickenpox because delta spreads like chickenpox and schools are quite familiar with chickenpox spread, which is legendary. But perhaps if you name the state and district some people can see what they get. @jovesta @cc21 and @iridium
Also permission for children to get covid vaccines is expected by mid to late fall. That hope may give many schools the permission to set stricter standards for he first quarter of the year with an eye to lifting them when kids can get vaccinated.
This article is behind their paywall - do you have some other way to share it? (Thanks!)
@laura-f If you have a Mac, an iPad, or an iPhone, you can pull the page up in the Safari browser and hit the little paper like icon in the address bar to read it in reader mode - gets around the NYT paywall (Until that trick gets more known :P)